Don’t Let Him Pass You By

Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist

Reading 1 Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13

Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the Spirit
through the bond of peace:
one Body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.

But grace was given to each of us
according to the measure of Christ's gift. 

And he gave some as Apostles, others as prophets,
others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers,
to equip the holy ones for the work of ministry,
for building up the Body of Christ,
until we all attain to the unity of faith
and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,
to the extent of the full stature of Christ. 
 

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5

R. (5) Their message goes out through all the earth.
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
Not a word nor a discourse
whose voice is not heard;
Through all the earth their voice resounds,
and to the ends of the world, their message.
R. Their message goes out through all the earth.
 

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
We praise you, O God,
we acclaim you as Lord;
the glorious company of Apostles praise you.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
 

Gospel Matthew 9:9-13

As Jesus passed by,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, "Follow me."
And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house,
many tax collectors and sinners came
and sat with Jesus and his disciples.
The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples,
"Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
He heard this and said,
"Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.
Go and learn the meaning of the words,
I desire mercy, not sacrifice.
I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."


 

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Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Don’t Let Him Pass You By

September 21, 2026 // Feast of Saint Matthew, Apostle and evangelist

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13

Reflect on the Word // 

As a shy child, I found it difficult to engage in conversation and make eye contact with others. I remember hoping that if I closed my eyes, I would become invisible to others. Much later, with the help of God and others, I began to understand that I wasn’t just a shy girl, but I was living under the heavy cloak of shame. I was afraid that if someone saw the real me, they would decide that I wasn’t worth loving.

And yet, long before I even knew Who Jesus was, He saw me. Eventually, His gaze of love captured my heart, and invited me to step out of my shame to follow Him.

Today we celebrate the Feast of Saint Matthew, and the Gospel reading penned by this Apostle is a strikingly simple and detached retelling of the most significant event of his life. Jesus saw Matthew with divine eyes—not as a greedy tax collector living on the fringe of Jewish society, but as the beloved lost sheep He came to rescue. 

Jesus’ two-word invitation to “follow him” was spoken amid the deafening clamor of the crowded street, and yet Matthew heard the Rabbi’s voice so clearly that “he got up and followed him” (Matthew 9:9). He didn’t make excuses, delay to clean up, or get his affairs in order. Another translation, “So he arose and followed him,” hints at the Resurrection (Matthew 9:9 New King James Version). Jesus invited Matthew to rise up from his self-focused life of worldly cares to a new and authentic life with Him. 

Wherever you right now, Jesus is passing by. Today, there is grace to once again be found by Jesus, to look up and to rise up from the noise, the mess, and the shame, and follow Him. 

Relate to the Lord // Place yourself in today’s Gospel and imagine Jesus inviting you to follow Him. How do you respond?

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